Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2009-10: Kyle Jean originally slated to begin his college career with Lake Superior State, Jean returned to the Traverse City Northstars for a third season in the NAHL. He skated in 34 regular season games, scoring 15 goals with 11 assists and was minus-four with 47 penalty minutes. In the playoffs the Northstars reached the Robertson Cup round robin tournament after winning the North Division title. Jean scored 3 goals with 4 assists and was plus-eight with 4 penalty minutes in 10 playoff games.

2010-11: Jean skated in 38 of 39 games for Lake Superior State as a freshman. He scored his first (and only) goal of the season in October against Northern Michigan and finished plus-two with 13 assists and 45 penalty minutes. The Lakers finished eighth in the CCHA and fell to Notre Dame in three games in the CCHA quarterfinals.

2011-12: Jean scored 12 goals (second only to Nick McParland's 14) in his sophomore season at Lake Superior State. He was also second on the Lakers with 54 penalty minutes in 39 games and was plus-three with 3 assists. The Lakers were eliminated in the CCHA quarterfinals for the second straight season after finishing in seventh place. Invited to the New York Rangers development camp, Jean signed a two-year entry-level contract in July 2012 and will forego his final two years of college hockey.

2012-13: Jean skated in 73 of 76 games for Rangers AHL affiliate Connecticut in his first pro season. After getting off to a fast start (Jean scored 4 goals with 5 assists in his first seven games) his offensive production slowed as the season went on (three assists in his final 24 games). Jean finished the year with 9 goals and 14 assists and was -2 with 47 penalty minutes. Connecticut missed the AHL playoffs by two points despite finishing second in the Northeast Division.

Photo: Dylan McIlrath has gradually developed into a dependable and physical defensive defenseman. The New York Rangers selected McIlrath 10th overall in the 2010 NHL Draft. (courtesy of Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

It seems like a distant memory now, but just six or seven years ago, the New York Rangers had few homegrown players on their NHL roster. Big name free agents were the norm for this original six team, with few of the team's prospects ever appearing in more than one or two games on Broadway.

Photo: Forward Oscar Lindberg is expected to make his NHL debut in 2013-14. Lindberg was acquired in a trade with Phoenix in 2011. (courtesy of Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP/Getty Images)

The upper portion of the New York Rangers Top 20 has not changed for several cycles. Chris Kreider remains the premier player among a very talented group, while Danny Kristo, obtained in a July 2013 trade with Montreal, now occupies the number two position.

Photo: Forward Kyle Jean is one of many Rangers prospects who brings a lot of size and toughness to the organization. (Photo courtesy of Fred Kfoury/Icon SMI)

There are 11 "home grown" players currently on the New York Rangers' roster, including former first round selection Chris Kreider, who played with the AHL Connecticut Whale as recently as January. Of the Rangers prospects currently on the Connecticut Whale roster, there are two former first round picks (Dylan McIlrath and J.T. Miller), one second round selection (Christian Thomas), and seven rookies overall.

Photo: Drafted 10th overall in 2010, Dylan McIlrath brings size and toughness to the Rangers blue line. McIlrath has yet to suit up this season due to a knee injury suffered this past summer. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The New York Rangers have become one of the NHL teams that rely most on good player development. As the result of a rebuild that lasted at least half of the last decade, close to half of the players on the 2011-12 roster had either been drafted or signed as free agents out of junior hockey.